We will see the end of the third round on Day 6 of the US Open. Eight women will advance to the second week in Flushing Meadows, and there are eight incredible matchups to determine those women. As always, we’re here at LWOT to share our thoughts on all the matches. Four are in this article, and four are in a separate article. Predicting these matches are Fraser Learmonth, Andrew Watson, and Jim Smith. Who do you think will win?
US Open Day 6 Women’s Predictions
Ashleigh Barty vs Shelby Rogers
Fraser:
This is a familiar matchup for these two. Barty and Rogers have met four times this year. They have played twice on hard courts and twice on clay. On each occasion Barty emerged victorious, which makes picking a winner here fairly simple. They last played in April and Barty has only improved since then so I’m taking the Aussie to win this one comfortably.
Prediction: Barty in 2
Andrew:
The Australian was only partly troubled by Clara Tauson in the previous round but she has rarely been troubled by Rogers in the past. Barty holds a 5-0 H2H lead and I think that will extend to six after this.
Prediction: Barty in 2
Jim:
This isn’t a match Shelby Rogers can’t win, but it is one she probably won’t win. Ashleigh Barty has looked a little shaky at brief moments so far, but she hasn’t dropped a set and it feels like there are still gears for her to go through. Expect her to tame Rogers’ power easily enough.
Prediction: Barty in 2
Iga Swiatek vs Anett Kontaveit
Fraser:
Swiatek very nearly suffered an early exit at the hands of Ferro last round. However, the Polish star found her game just in time and dominated the third set after edging the tiebreak in the second. Her reward is a match against a red hot Kontaveit. The Estonian is on a seven-match winning streak and has beaten Swiatek both times they’ve met on hard courts. Swiatek’s hard court game is still a work in progress but her level in the third set against Ferro is enough to beat most on the tour. I’m not convinced she can sustain that here so I’m giving the edge to Kontaveit but this one could go either way.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 3
Andrew:
I can’t wait to see these two clean strikers of the ball go to battle. The Pole pulled one out of the fire against Fiona Ferro and I don’t think she is in her best form. Kontaveit though is in great shape after her title win just before the Open and I favour her in this match-up.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 3
Jim:
Iga Swiatek came very close to making an early exit in the second round, but found a way to survive against Fiona Ferro. Will Anett Kontaveit prove so forgiving? The Estonian has been overdue a good run at a Major for a while and she arrived at this US Open in a fine fettle. This could be her year.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 3
Varvara Gracheva vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Fraser:
Gracheva’s dream run in New York continued with a brilliant straight sets win over Paula Badosa in the second round. The Russian now faces a fellow countrywoman in Pavlyuchenkova. The French Open finalist needed three sets to get past Schmiedlova in her second round matchup. However, she is famous for growing into tournaments and ripping off big runs out of nowhere. This is looking like it may just be another one of those runs. Pavlyuchenkova should have too much for her young Russian counterpart here.
Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in 2
Andrew:
I underestimated Gracheva in her previous match vs Badosa. She was more consistent than I thought and if she delivers that game then she can trouble her fellow Russian. It was a three setter the previous time these two met and I foresee a similar match here with the same outcome, Pavlyuchenkova just being too powerful in the end.
Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in 3
Jim:
Varvara Gracheva has done superbly to make it this far, but it is hard to see her going any further. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova had not quite been at her best since the French Open, but she seems to have found her feet again now. Maybe not enough for another run to the final, but she should have the beating of her compatriot.
Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in 2
Petra Kvitova vs Maria Sakkari
Fraser:
This is one of the hardest of the day’s matches to call. But Maria Sakkari can ask questions of Petra Kvitova that the Czech’s first two opponents simply haven’t. There is no doubt that Kvitova has the power to do damage, but it’s less clear whether or not she has had enough matches to win at this level of competition. The Greek, who is getting back to her best, might be just about too strong.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
Andrew:
I’ve been more impressed by the Greek here as she has two tough matches and won both comfortably. The Czech hasn’t dropped a set either though and actually leads the H2H 3-2. My gut feeling tells me that Sakkari is in better form and will edge this in three.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
Jim:
This match should be prime time tennis. Sakkari is having another incredible season and will likely improve her ranking position on the WTA tour for the eight consecutive season. By contrast, Kvitova has had a relatively quiet year, particularly at Grand Slams. However, the Czech lefty rarely goes an entire year without putting on a show at a major and she is due a good run. Getting past Sakkari will be no easy feat and the Greek will be determined to make a deep run in a Grand Slam after showing earlier in the year that she can go deep in WTA 1000 events. I think Sakkari has improved enough to be the favourite here, but you can never discount Kvitova showing up and blowing her opponent off the court when she’s in the mood.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
